“Going green” is not only good for the environment, but is also beneficial to your health and wallet. Making small, eco-friendly lifestyle changes can help you live a cleaner life and make a serious impact. By following the three R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle—you can take simple steps to live a more environmentally sound life.

•  Replace outdated appliances with eco-friendly models. Even just replacing incandescent light bulbs can save $30-80 over the lifetime of each bulb.
•  Remember to unplug, and turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
• Save water. Take shorter showers, fix any leaks, use shorter wash cycles and only run tap water when you need it. 
• Create less waste. Use reusable water bottles, opt for paperless billing and use your own tote bag rather than paper or plastic bags when shopping.
•  Find alternatives to throwing items away. Determine whether an item can be recycled, composted, donated or sold to someone else before discarding it.
• Source food locally. Not only will you be supporting small businesses, but the shorter the distance your food travels, the less energy it consumes along the way.
• Insulate your home. Having proper insulation can make your heating system more efficient and your bill a lot lower.
• Lower your thermostat. Over the course of the year, you will reduce the amount of energy and money you spend on heating and cooling.
• Cut down on fuel. Whenever possible, carpool, walk, ride your bike or use public transportation instead of driving alone. Doing so will reduce your carbon footprint and save money on gas.

Creating a more eco-friendly home doesn’t mean you have to drastically change your lifestyle. By following the three R’s, you can reduce your carbon footprint, benefiting both yourself and the environment in a variety of ways.